San Benito Mountain – From last May, a couple of hours after this I come to the campground and there is just enough light to make the 3+ mile hike into Joaquin Rocks. As you recall, I haven’t slept in a couple of days and when I almost ran into Ranger Tom coming around the bend, he raised his eyebrows, looked down at my tires and said::”‘it’s the rocks that you have to watch out for, punch right through those sidewalls.” I had my eye out, even before Ranger Tom, but now I have both of em pealed, even tho it’s hard not to be distracted by such austere beauty, Then I remember why I’m out here and try and imagine what it might have been like a hundred and fifty years ago, riding with Joaquin and his gang of horse thieves – La Vereda

La Vereda – Looking east toward the Alcalde Hills and what once was Tulare Lake. Even now there are ghosts out there, like vibrations wanting to be seen. I’m about an hour from the campground, but I’m so transposed that I’m not thinking about how far, or the sun going down, or anything, really, except how Murrieta learned the game of Monte and played it in the tent cities along the Lake, in gambling dens, where he’d share his money, much of it stolen, all of it squandered freely with the gypsy culture of Californios that lived along the marsh banks. And on his way there, a days ride out, he’d take in this very view, riding along the ridge, his heart racing and he’d tap his Sorrel mare on the ribs and all of them would give a ‘Yaa-hoo Oye Oye, whistling and maybe even breaking into a song. There were women waiting, and good whiskey, and serious money to be made at the tables, They’d spend the night at the rocks before going down and take a bath in the spring, and make sure the herd was well corralled for the night. I’m hoping it isn’t too long, I figure if I make it in the next hour, I’m going for it – Joaquin Rocks – La Vereda del Monte.

Murrieta’s stomping grounds, 1896 – Recall at 16 he rode up from Sonora, passing though Tulare Lake and ending in Niles Canyon, where he had a house with his lover/wife Rosa Feliz, sister of Claudio, who had a claim in the gold fields of the Sierras. From William Mero’s article, cocohistory.org/essays-murrieta.html

‘The young Joaquin eventually married Rosa Feliz of Vayoreca. They, along with Jesus Murrieta and Rosa’s three brothers, went to California upon news of the gold strike. Rosa’s brother, Claudio Feliz, began gold mining with Anglo partners near Sonora while Joaquin and his bride eventually moved to Niles Canyon, then part of Contra Costa County. In these early years there is evidence that Joaquin worked as a vaquero near Oakley and Brentwood in 1850 and as a mestenero (mustang catcher) – La Vereda